[Boatanchors] SOLDER TIPS

[Singley, Rodger]

Good "tip" on the Copperweld Carl, I haven't tried that one.

I have also made a few custom tips for specific situations but I rarely use my gun.  It sits on the bench and when I need moderate heat quickly for a single connection or two I use it.

I have a pair of the military style TCP stations that I bought from Fair Radio years ago and these are my main bench irons.  They use a very simple method using the Curie point of a magnet in the tip to control the thermostat and the selected tip sets the heat range.  These came with around 20 tips each including desoldering and various IC removal tips.

For heavy duty stuff I have a Chinese knockoff of an American Beauty iron that I picked up at a hamfest for $5 about a decade a go and I wish I had bought a second spare for when this one gives out.  It takes about 8 minutes to come up to full heat and looks like some form of medieval torture device but it makes fast work of big jobs.

Even in BA gear, the form factor of a gun is often awkward it seems to me.

Rodger WQ9E


-----Original Message-----
From: boatanchors-bounces at mailman.qth.net on behalf of Carl
Sent: Sun 9/5/2010 8:56 AM
To: Mr Magoo; boatanchors at mailman.qth.net
Subject: Re: [Boatanchors] SOLDER TIPS
 
Ive made tips from #10 copper and Copperweld Bill, each bent for a specific 
purpose. The Copperweld doesnt get as hot but it is plenty strong and doesnt 
buckle under pressure. The guns are all 8200 series that Ive picked up cheap 
and are now specifically purposed. A D-550 is used as needed when I dont 
have to wait for a huge iron to warm up.

Most work is done with 15-40W irons however.

Carl
KM1H


----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Mr Magoo" <magoo at isp.ca>
To: <boatanchors at mailman.qth.net>
Sent: Sunday, September 05, 2010 7:35 AM
Subject: [Boatanchors] SOLDER TIPS


> I'm doing a lot more building these days and I'm getting pretty frustrated
> with the short time replacement tips last in my Weller gun.  I never had
> tips fail this quickly way back when, but I suppose the quality is nowhere
> near what it was decades ago.  Yes, I use an iron too but there are jobs
> which require a gun to do effectively.  And yes-I look after the tip, 
> making
> sure it stays tinned and is secure in the gun.
>
> So, does anyone know of a source of more robust tips for the small Weller
> gun?
>
> Bill VE3NH
>
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